Islanders fall in Columbus
Published on August 19, 2009 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
COLUMBUS, OH - In the opening match of the CONCACAF Champions League group phase Tuesday night the USL First Division's Puerto Rico Islanders suffered a 2-0 defeat on a pair of second half goals on the road against Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew.
Despite a fantastic performance, the loss snapped goalkeeper Bill Gaudette's nine-game shutout streak in USL-1 and Champions League competition that features an active seven-game stretch in league play and the two Preliminary Round matches in the 1-0 aggregate series victory against Toronto FC. The end of Gaudette's streak meant the continuation of another as Columbus extended it home unbeaten run to 23 games in official competitions (league, playoffs and Champions League).
The MLS Eastern Conference leaders nearly took the lead early when a Guillermo Barros Schelotto header in to Alejandro Moreno at the near post created a chance in the 14th minute, but Moreno was unable to get a good touch on the ball, watching it deflect out of play.
A lucky bounce off the back heel of the referee in the 35th minute created a chance for Puerto Rico. The deflection went right to the striker Nicholas Addlery to spring the counter attack. Addlery dished it off to Petter Villegas, who drove deep on the right side of the box before sending a close shot into the outside netting.
A minute later Emmanuel Ekpo fired a long range effort that Gaudette parried away.
Another minute later a ball into the area found Moreno, who held off his marker and snapped a shot off from 10 yards at the near post that Gaudette made a good reaction save on.
In the 40th minute Gaudette had to make an unexpected stop when a ball was mishit by defender Scott Jones and nearly went in the back of the net.
Eight minutes after the break a header from Danny O'Rourke on a cross from Robbie Rogers went high from six yards.
A free kick from Schelotto led to the opening goal for the crew in the 59th, the ball was cycled around inside the area by the Crew eventually coming to Chad Marshall at the left edge of the six, where he crossed it in front of goal, allowing Steven Lenhart to streak through and bury it into the open net.
The hosts doubled the lead in the 79th when Eddie Gaven drove into the area and sent it into the six to Moreno. Defender Krause got his foot to the ball, but the glancing deflection rolled to Rogers on the far post side of the goal for the tap in.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from August 19, 2009
- Eagles Soar Past Real Maryland in Quarterfinals 3-1 - Charlotte Eagles
- Code Red! USL-2 Semifinals Saturday - Richmond Kickers
- Islanders fall in Columbus - USL
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